Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi: We'll leave if army drafting enforced

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli Media
  • 10 Mar 2024 01:42
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Israeli Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's threat of a mass departure from the occupation in the event of mandatory military drafting has triggered significant controversy within the occupied territory.

  • x
  • Israeli Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, during a visit to the Heichal Shlomo Center in occupied al-Quds in this May 26, 2014. (AFP)
    Israeli Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef in occupied al-Quds on May 26, 2014. (AFP)

Israeli Chief Sephardic Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef threatened a mass departure from the occupation entity if mandatory military drafting was enforced, sparking a great uproar within the occupation entity. 

“If you force them to go to the army, we’ll all move abroad,” Yosef said.

Yosef's comments come amid a growing storm over "the drafting of Haredim", adding "We will buy tickets; there is no such thing as forcing us into the army. The state stands on this."

“All these secular people don’t understand that without kollels and yeshivas, the army would not be successful,” he said, referring to institutions where religious men study Jewish texts rather than working or enlisting. “The soldiers only succeed thanks to those learning the Torah.”

It is noteworthy that in 2013, Yosef's father, the former Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, expressed a similar statement, indicating that they would consider relocating abroad rather than being compelled into military service in "Israel". He stated, "We may unfortunately have to depart from the Land of Israel."

Yosef's recent statement carries significant weight, particularly due to its timing, coinciding with the ongoing battles on several fronts - in the Gaza Strip and northern occupied Palestine. These ongoing confrontations have resulted in daily losses for the occupation forces, leading to noticeable strains on their internal cohesion. Moreover, there have been evident rifts among its leaders and politicians. Israeli media reports have also highlighted the prevalence of psychological crises among a considerable number of its soldiers.

Yosef's statement reflects the growing frustration among ultra-Orthodox Jews as pressure increases to abolish the policy granting a comprehensive exemption for religious school students from military service.

Related News

Doctors in Gaza report severe levels of hunger: AP

Gaza education system near total collapse, UN reports

Responses to the Rabbi's statement 

Yosef's statement sparked strong objections, with the head of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, condemning them, stating, "Rabbi Yosef's words are a disgrace and an insult to the IDF soldiers who sacrifice their lives for the defense of the country. Rabbi Yosef is a state employee, with a salary from the state, he cannot threaten the state," adding that "Whoever evades the IDF will not receive a penny from the State of Israel."

In turn, the head of the "Yisrael Beytenu" party, Avigdor Liberman, wrote on his account on X: "It is a shame that Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and the ultra-Orthodox businessmen continue to harm Israel's security and act contrary to Halacha."

Haredi Jews clash with Israeli Police

Confrontations between the Israeli occupation police force and Haredi Jews have been renewed in light of the latter's protests on Sunday in refusal of the Israeli occupation's law of mandatory conscription with the IOF. 

Reporting on the matter, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 said hundreds of Haredis have been protesting and blocking the roads in occupied al-Quds. Chants such as "We'd rather die than serve" were repeated, while Israeli media reported intense clashes between protestors and Israeli police. 

As a result, Israeli police attempted to forcefully disperse protests.

The ultra-Orthodox slice of Israeli society rejects recruitment into the Israeli occupation's military, which may opt for a chaotic recruitment-by-force situation from the regime's authorities. As this issue reflects a grueling domestic conflict from within, the Knesset looks to attract Haredi Jews through services and material means.

It is estimated that there are about 50,000 Haredi orthodox young adults in occupied Palestine who are eligible for military recruitment in the Israeli Occupation forces (IOF). However, only 1,200 are signed up, as of 2019 statistics.

Three weeks ago, the Knesset passed a bill -- needing two more readings -- that would integrate more Ultra-Orthodox men into the military.

A Haredi journalist, Yanki Farber, suggests that if the bill comes into effect, it will be met with anger and opposition.

  • Gaza Strip
  • Israel
  • Sephardic Chief Rabbi

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS